A soft melody filled the dark room as Lake began to sing, threading his fingers through my hair. From behind me, Rowan rested his face against my nape and tightened his arm around my waist.
Thunder rolled deeply, rattling the windowpane. Lightning flashed and lit up the entire room. But I wasn’t scared anymore. Not when they were with me. As sleep claimed me again, I went somewhere the earlier nightmares couldn’t find me.
I went home.
I dreamed of our cottage nestled in the woods. Familiar. Safe. And so damn peaceful. Smoke billowed from the chimney, and wildflowers sprouted up from the rich soil. Seven men sat together on an outside patio, having breakfast.
Maddox snatched a muffin from the plate in the middle of the table, and Briar sipped tea, hiding a smile behind his cup. Lake shoveled an egg-and-bacon omelet into his mouth, his tail wagging happily behind him. Rowan had both legs pulled up into his chair and sneered at them between sips from a silver flask, but his eyes gave him away.
They were warm. Like pools of dark honey.
Three men’s faces and bodies were shadowed. Two had muscled frames, while the other was more elegant somehow.Although I couldn’t see who they were, I sensed their happiness. Felt it deep in my heart. One of the unknown men reached for a muffin, and Maddox swatted his hand away before taking it for himself, shoving half in his mouth.
Briar laughed so hard he sputtered tea.
Then, all seven of them turned to face me. One of the shadowy forms—the elegant one—stood and held out his hand. I slipped mine in his, letting him guide me to my chair.
When I woke up the next morning, sunlight spilled into the room. The storm had passed. Fragments of my dream remained though, and a sense of longing filled my chest. I sat up in bed and looked around the sunlit room. Rowan was no longer beside me. In his place?
A stuffed bunny rabbit with button eyes and floppy ears. Mister Hop.
“He left an hour ago.”
I turned to see Lake staring up at me, his silver hair fanning across his pillow. He was so damn beautiful it took my brain a second to function. Okay, two seconds. “He stayed the whole night?”
Lake nodded. “Before he left, he placed Mister Hop beside you. He’s difficult for me to read. His lips say one thing, but his eyes say another.”
“What does his eyes say?”
“That he didn’t want to leave you when you needed comfort.” He lifted a hand, and I grabbed it, allowing him to pull me back down beside him. “Speaking of. How do you feel?”
“Good. Just a little sleepy.”
“Then rest for a little longer.” Lake pushed his face into my hair. “The world can wait.”
